Parades, Markets, Etc.

Happy Spring!

The GW's paying the price for poor attic insulation

What a winter this was...the win goes to the ice dams with a shout out to the guys who climb up on roofs and steam them off when they start to melt and leak into your living room. And bathroom. And front hall.

The first meeting of the KDPGA will be happening soon but that doesn't mean you can't start preparing yourself mentally and emotionally for the growing season...Browse some seed catalogs! Go out and see if it's warm enough yet to actually smell the soil! Come by my house and haul away that rotting 2010 pumpkin in the front yard!

And be sure to mark your calendars for a couple of key events:


Friday, May 20: eveningish at the intersection of Kelly and Winnetka Heights Drive: Decorating the Tractor-Float for the Golden Valley Days Parade

Saturday, May 21: 8:30 a.m. same location: Jump on the Tractor-Float for a ride-in-style to the Golden Valley Days parade (we stop at Starbucks on the way and then participate in the parade...feel free to be in the parade or watch it: either way you are welcome to ride down there with us)

Sunday, June 26: Kick-off the new Golden Valley Farmer's Market...some of us from the KDPGA will be on hand that day to promote the event

I'm Back

Okay, people, apparently in my absence you have elected me your new secretary. (I suppose Truth in Advertising requires us to use a term more along the lines of, "like new," or "gently used." But whatever.)

I know some of you will be thrilled to know that means a return to the blog. Others will find that annoying for one reason or another, even if you don't quite know why. And still others are once again asking themselves and perhaps a trusted neighbor, "What the hell is a blog?"

Whatever your view, I hope you have a FABULOUS Thanksgiving. And be sure to check back periodically as I will be updating all the information on the left and adding new content as I make it up.

Peace out.

jgw

Welcome to 2009, KDPGA-ers!

Ladies and Gentleman, we are back and better than ever! 2009 is going to be a great year for gathering and growing. Our newly elected leaders have made a forceful, dynamic first impression and are ready to implement change all over the place. I can just feel it.

That said, the question of the hour is whether we can start our seeds BEFORE the first official event. Actually, this is just one person's question, but she's kinda loud and awfully cute so people tend to listen to her.

Weigh in folks! Figure out how to comment here on the blog or send your comments to our fine leaders and let them know. Be a communitarian...it's all the rage.

Carry on.

Check out our redesigned web site at www.kellydrive.org. Spring is springing though you wouldn't know it from all the snow on our Minnesota ground.

Where Have all the Flowers Gone...?

The gardening magazines call this "winter interest."

Just Gettin Tired of the Beard Guy

That's all. More soon on the garage sale.

This Could Be You

If you have a beard. And you are this guy.

Stay warm, y'all.

Quote of the Day

In the midst of all this bitter cold (yet glorious sunshine today) I needed a reminder of at least part of what this pumpkin and sunflower growing business is all about:

"The influence of a beautiful, helpful, hopeful character is contagious, and may revolutionize a whole town." —Eleanor H. Porter (I have NO IDEA who she is...feel free to look her up and add details in the comments.)

Road Trip Anyone?

To Punkin Chunkin...watch and learn:

New Poll!

Da' Judge has suggested a spring-time neighborhood garage sale. Isaac and Nora think it's a swell idea; their parents think it might involve cleaning the garage and are thus a bit hestitent. How about you? Got stuff? Stuff you wanna move?

Tell us your thoughts in the all new KDPGA Poll (see left)!

jgw

P.S. Thanks to all who came to Soup Saturday.

Poll Results Are In!

And, as is the case with most informal, unscientific polls, we have very few usable, helpful data. We do know that Twelfth Night and The Dirty Dozen are not highly popular options. At least among blog users.

Stay tuned for another engaging poll coming your way soon!

g-dub

Check It Out!

The polar bear at Emma and William's house on Winnetka Heights is REALLY awesome. But you'd better get there soon. It won't stay around for that long.

Be Sure to Vote

Hey, y'all. If you scroll down the page a bit there is an informal survey regarding themes for next year's weigh-off (#12). You only have a few days left to vote.

So far Six of One/A Half Dozen of the Other and Cheaper by the Dozen are neck and neck. Other is the current front runner, and...well...I don't know...frankly, it just doesn't do much for me. I mean, think of the tee-shirts:

Sunflowers, the
Other
Thing We Grow

The 12th Annual KPDGA Pumpkin Weigh Off
October 11, 2008

or how 'bout

KDPGA
All for one and one for
Other
The 12th Annual KPDGA Pumpkin Weigh Off
October 11, 2008

I could go on like this all day, but I don't see things getting any better. So, anyway, cast your vote.

Golden Valley? Or Sleepy Hollow?

And so begins the Legend of the Headless Fireman...

For the Common Good

An opportunity to make our community a wee bit more beautiful (I know, sounds impossible...but it's true):

http://www.restorelilacway.com/
Designed to introduce the Campaign to Restore Lilac Way, this new site promotes both the public and private efforts to bring the lilacs back to Highway 100. The Campaign is a pro bono civic project created by Laukkonen Design.

Viewers can learn the history of the original and innovative 1930’s landscaping and join the effort to restore this historical area from Robbinsdale to Edina.

You can download a presentation on the home page that shows the proposed Campaign graphics and tells the story of this community project.

Thanks for your support,

Karen Laukkonen, Campaign Director
The Campaign to Restore Lilac Way
Email: karen@restorelilacway.com

Thanks, Anita, for the lead.

Pumpkin Boats

We have to try this sometime.

Happy Slacker Holidays

Okay, Growers, as your newly appointed scribe, I believe it is my duty (right? privilege?) to tell you that once again you people are making me look bad.

My kids already think I'm a total slacker when it comes to decorating anything. And now this:

• Christmas trees decorated on Thanksgiving weekend;
• Sparkly lights all over your homes;
• Wreaths taken out of their bags and hung outside.

I'll stop there. And I shall not name names...you know who you are.

The only thing saving me face is that I bought some jingle bells yesterday in a Target Moment (we just went in for cat litter!). I hung them on the empty hook that always hangs outside our front door. Oh, that and that the Viking has not yet made an appearance across the street (where is he, Kurt? I kinda miss him).

So the next time you think, "Oh, wouldn't this be a neat looking little do-hickey project thingy-majigy," please, think of your poor, beleaguered deco-challenged secretary.

A Sight for Sore Eyes

I try really, really hard to honor my inner Minnesotan and love the cold. But I can't say I have much success. The snow is cool, and it's fun to watch kids and dogs (St. Bernards anyway) having so much fun, but my appreciation for winter doesn't go much beyond that.

So I think about spring and my gardens, and sunnier days, like our 2007 weigh-off. Aren't we fabulous? :-)

jgw

November Wrap-Up Meeting Minutes

Kelly Drive Pumpkin Growers Association
Meeting Minutes November 18th – Wrap Up Meeting

• Thank you to Howard and Jeannie for hosting the November meeting!
• President Callista called the meeting to order. A huge thank you to Callista for all her work as president this year. At this meeting KDPGA members were asked to give positives about this year’s weigh off and/or areas for improvement. I will try and list the different ideas in no particular order.

- KDPGA members liked that the family who grew each pumpkin was announced at the weigh off.
- Everyone liked having “the little judge” at the weigh off
- We should make sure to give all the kids a role at the weigh off so they feel they are an important part of the day
- Organizing the parade a little more this year was great – maybe next year we could expand on that as well with flags that could be made by the kids at earlier pumpkin meetings
- Having the invitations on email was a great idea
- The t-shirts were fabulous this year – we probably could have sold more at the weigh off
- Next year we should make sure to watch the stone pillars to make sure that kids are not climbing on them
- Renae K. will be taking over the book that Lisa started for writing down the different job and committee descriptions. Thank you Renae!
- The web-site will be looked at for possible updating. Jennifer has continued to write on the KDPGA blog.
- Thank you again to Paul for the wonderful job on the DVD this year!!
- Everyone should continue to think about possible themes for the 2008 weigh off
- We need to also look at different ways to monitor the pumpkins that are left out the day before the weigh off so that they are not “taken”
- Karl, Jeannie, and George M. agreed to help form a welcoming committee for new neighbors

• Jon H. reported that at this point we have $1,058.00. Our beginning balance was $979.00. Total expenses for 2007 were $3669.00 and total deposits were $3748.00. Thanks Jon for always doing such a great job. We all appreciate you!
• Our new presidential team will be Lisa and Chris. Thank you to both of them for taking on this important job. Look for more information on a possible “Pub Crawl” in February!
• Jennifer Griffin-Wiesner will be the new secretary. Please be sure to let Jennifer know if your email address changes so we can keep everyone up to date.

Thank you to everyone for helping make this year’s weigh off so successful! Happy holidays to everyone – see you in April! Let it snow!!!

Janet

Rarely Seen Footage

Mrs. GW...the blonde years. (There is a reason these images are kept under wraps.)

Be Ever Vigilant

I'm cold today. Like England cold...I feel it in my bones. Can't get warm. Even my bum is cold.

These are days when it's good to think about growing (plants, not our bums); and to read up on things like how to combat the Dreaded Vine Borer on www.kellydrive.org.

We GWs, being chrunchy granola types, hunt them with our baseball caps. Other methods may be slightly more effective.

Here's a victim of our 2003 campaign:

The Mystery of the Dart in the Eves

Miss Ellie and Miss Nora have reported the presence of a dart, yes, you read that right, a dart, very high up in the eves of Miss Ellie's home. The shooter of said dart surely must have had a very strong arm or, more heinously, blow gun.

[Actually, I don't know what eves are, but it sounds better than trim or fascia or That Panel Right Under the Roof.]

It is very curious indeed, and at the present time there are no known suspects, though Miss Nora is quite certain that the "wild teenager boys across the pond" are to blame.

This kind of dart:














Not this kind:

So Many Reasons...

...to give thanks.

Blessings to you my neighbors and friends.

Jennifer

Breaking News: That's Ms. Scarlet to You

Apparently our Red Tractor still has some Sha in her Sha Na Na.

A KDPGA insider reported early yesterday evening that Miss Scarlet has recently taken up with a mid-sized boat. No details are currently available on how or when the relationship began, or what the reaction has been of Scarlet's roommate. Thus far Maxwell Compound spokespersons have remained silent on the issue.

A Man and His Giant Sunflower

What's left to say?

Holiday Shop for a Cause!

Callista, KDPGA president and wise woman, wants you to know that if you buy gifts this season:

YOU HAVE TO CHECK THIS OUT!

Alternative Christmas Market
Christ Memorial Lutheran
13501 Sunset Trail (3/4 mile N of Ridgedale)
Plymouth
544-3632

This Sat and Sun from 9-3.

WONDERFUL gifts to buy made by persons in 3rd world countries; alternative donation gift-giving ideas...

This is done with St. Mary of the Lake and Thrivent Financial.
Callista is working Sunday 11 to 1, so stop by and visit her! Bring her a nice, hot cup of coffee (I added that part...she likes cream and sweetener). Show your support for this great idea.

Peace, all y'all.

Getting Squirrelly

For some time now Mr. GW has held fast to his belief that something fishy in the neighborhood of Central Kelly Drive is causing color variations in the local squirrel population. I have concurred, going so far as to speculate on a correlation between said variations and the girth and somewhat odd appearance of pumpkins growing in the same vicinity. Our concerns, however, have been lessened by the fact that all of the squirrels in the "sac" have been gray (and, yes, our pumpkins small but pretty).

Until now.

Yes, folks, just this week I spotted a gray critter sporting a white-tipped tail headed north through the front yard of that one woman whose name I don't know and who never comes to any KDPGA events.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent

Okay, people...the dark afternoons are upon us and it snowed this week. Some of us are feeling the tug of hibernation. (No, 8:30 is NOT an unreasonable time for mom to go bed.) And before you know it giant blow up Vikings will be visible out my front door. (Not to mention stacks of firewood improperly situated on my property.)

I don't know about y'all, but the Little People at our house are thrilled and it's got me thinkin' about snow days and hot chocolate and indoor fires. Oh, and soup. I.T. Guy and I hope to host some Soup Saturdays this winter and if you're an official member of KDPGA (meaning you're on the mailing list), you're invited. Watch this site for details!

g-dub

Kelly Drive's Newest Beat Cop?

It could happen. But only, she says, if she gets to lose the guy with the leash.

Even Red Tractors Need their Beauty Rest

Big K graciously took a break today from his job with The People's Court to escort Miss Scarlet south for the winter.

Far from being ready for retirement, Scarlet is reportedly pleased to have secured a first-floor studio apartment in the intergenerational community known affectionately as the Maxwell Compound. It is located in a lovely, rather upscale part of town. Her roommate is said to be a fuel-efficient, quiet young lady. A nearby neighbor is a nationally recognized expert in geriatric-farm-implement health issues (including restorative surgery), a comfort to Scarlet, who is by all accounts realistic and pragmatic about the fact that she is getting on in years.

Further details regarding Scarlet's winter exploits will be posted as they become known. Inquiries may be submitted by clicking on the word "comments" below.

The Aftermath

So what does one living in an urban environment do with lots of leftover Giant Pumpkins? (Those who aren't as lucky as the GWs to have two humungous compost bins, that is.) Find someone who has a relative with a farm, of course!

Thanks to the Compost Delivery Crew for their dedication.

KDPGA in the News

Media coverage of The Ordeal was somewhat lacking this year, though it's still clearly open to debate whether significant media coverage is in fact desirable.

Bill Jones of the Sun Post did manage did get some shots of our early morning pumpkin thieves in the act. If you see any of these shady characters around the 'hood be sure to conduct a citizen's arrest. In case you are unsure of the C.A. procedure, I have attached instructions. Click on the highlighted letters to visit the links.

Carry on,

jgw

Back in the Day

Check out the cherubs...and you, Chris. :-)

Voles

Hi, all y'all. I ain't got much to say this here mornin', but a blog that just sits drives me crazy (actually, anything that just sits for very long kinda drives me crazy...). Anyway, I.T. Guy (Mr. GW) and I have discovered that we have voles living in our vegetable garden. Lots of them. And they are NOT shy. Thoughts on how hard we should work to transplant them? To where? Will they hinder our pumpkin and sunflower efforts? Bob, you want them? They're cute.

;-> Happy Day, all y'all!

jgw

Faces of Kelly Drive

Meeting Time Change

Wrap-up meeting time has been changed to 4:00 p.m. (see "News")

Pumpkin Entries 2007

Oscar
Ga'Houl
Barfing Billy
Survivor
He Who Must Not Be Named

Way to Grow!!!

Pumpkins's 11 Photos from the GWs

Some of Golden Valley's Public Safety Heroes Join the Celebration

2007 Wrap Up

The final 07 pumpkin meeting will be hosted by Jeannie and Howard Schwartz on Sunday, November 18th at 3:00, so be sure and mark it on your calendars!